Jesus And Ubuntu

"Essays in this volume come out of a conference on the social impact of Christianity in Africa held at the campus of Calvin College in the summer of 2009"--Introd.

For Christians, practicing Ubuntu means entering deeply into the compassionate, forgiving love of Gospel. As defined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed. The African spiritual principle of Ubuntu offers believers a new and radical way of reading the Gospel and understanding the heart of the Christian faith, and this new book explores the meaning and utility of Ubuntu as applied to Western philosophies, faith, and lifestyles. Ubuntu is an African way of seeing self-identity formed -through community. This is a difficult worldview for many Western people, who understand self as over, against, or in competition with others. In the Western viewpoint, Ubuntu becomes something to avoid—a kind of co-dependency. As a Christian leader who understands the need, intricacies, and delicate workings of global interdependency, Battle offers here both a refreshing worldview and a new perspective of self-identity for people across cultures, and of all faiths.

For Christians, practicing Ubuntu means entering deeply into the compassionate, forgiving love of Gospel. As defined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed. The African spiritual principle of Ubuntu offers believers a new and radical way of reading the Gospel and understanding the heart of the Christian faith, and this new book explores the meaning and utility of Ubuntu as applied to Western philosophies, faith, and lifestyles. Ubuntu is an African way of seeing self-identity formed -through community. This is a difficult worldview for many Western people, who understand self as over, against, or in competition with others. In the Western viewpoint, Ubuntu becomes something to avoid—a kind of co-dependency. As a Christian leader who understands the need, intricacies, and delicate workings of global interdependency, Battle offers here both a refreshing worldview and a new perspective of self-identity for people across cultures, and of all faiths.

The concept of ubuntu can be regarded as the essence or summary of the "African Renaissance" which all of us are experiencing at the moment in all areas of life in the new South Africa. But, in spite of the fact that nearly everyone knows the word, few people really know what exactly its meaning is. Getting more clarity on the meaning of ubuntu, (traditional) African culture and worldview is the intention of this second study pamphlet of 1999. This study pamphlet, therefore, should not be regarded as the final word on the topic, but as a contribution to the ongoing discussion. It clearly indicates the positive points. It, however, also warns against an uncritical attitude of simply trying to revive traditional African culture. As Christians we always have to be aware of both the strong and weak points of a culture. On the one hand, no culture is or will be perfect, but on the other hand, no culture should be rejected as evil.

Religious and Priestly Ongoing Formation with Christ Yesterday Today and Tomorrow is surely a powerful religious instrument which can be used to better oneself as a religious or a priest in our todays fast changing society. It helps one as a religious to look back at the values which initially motivated him/her to be a religious. One looks at these values and evaluates oneself to see how such values have helped him/her to develop as a human person and a religious. In this way, the book works as an ongoing formation resource which helps one as a religious to grow spiritually and humanly. The book has also some practical case studies which may provoke some serious reflections within oneself. These reflections help one to have an ongoing burning zeal to serve Christ as a religious. Reading this book is a virtue of ongoing self discovery in ones life as a religious or a priest.

A highly original analysis of Bishop Tutu's theology of ubuntu, an African concept that identity is formed by community, Battle draws on Tutu's many unpublished addresses and sermons to portray a man for whom the conventions of Anglicanism serve as roots and resources in the ongoing struggle against apartheid. Foreword by Desmond Tutu.

The essential guide to Ubuntu, the South African philosophy which teaches that our common humanity and interconnectedness is key to living a better life. "This book will open your eyes, mind and heart to a way of being in the world that will make our world a better and more caring one." --Archbishop Desmond Tutu Ubuntu is a Xhosa word originating from a South African philosophy that encapsulates all our aspirations about how to live life well, together. It is the belief in a universal human bond: I am only because you are. And it means that if you are able to see everyone as fully human, connected to you by their humanity, you will never be able to treat others as disposable or without worth. By embracing the philosophy of Ubuntu and living it out in daily life it's possible to overcome division and be stronger together in a world where the wise build bridges, not walls. These 14 lessons from the Rainbow Nation are an essential toolkit to helping us all to live better, together. In stories that recognise our common humanity, our connectedness and interdependence, Everyday Ubuntu helps to make sense of the world and our place in it. Exploring ideas of kindness and forgiveness, tolerance and the power of listening, it shows how we can all benefit from embracing others. Including practical applications and mindful exercises, it is an inspirational guide to a more fulfilling life as part of the large family to which we all belong.

A highly original analysis of Bishop Tutu's theology of ubuntu, an African concept that identity is formed by community, Battle draws on Tutu's many unpublished addresses and sermons to portray a man for whom the conventions of Anglicanism serve as roots and resources in the ongoing struggle against apartheid. Foreword by Desmond Tutu.